By Horn Africa News
BAIDOA — The President of Somalia’s Southwest State, Abdiaziz Hassan Mohamed (Laftagareen), has ordered security forces to take decisive action to maintain stability in Baidoa, the state’s administrative capital, as political tensions escalate.
In a directive to regional security agencies, President Laftagareen cautioned against any attempts to undermine his administration’s authority and called for a firm response to threats against public order.
“Security forces must act decisively against anyone attempting to destabilize the town or challenge the governance of the Southwest administration,” Laftagareen said.
His remarks were echoed by Southwest State Security Minister Hassan Abdulkadir, who announced a ban on unauthorized weapons in Baidoa.
“No illegal arms should be visible in Baidoa — only government and recognized security forces are allowed to bear arms,” Abdulkadir declared.
The crackdown comes amid growing friction between the Southwest State administration and the federal government in Mogadishu. Analysts say the deepening mistrust reflects broader tensions between Somalia’s federal and regional authorities, raising fears over the country’s fragile political settlement and ongoing governance challenges.
Villa Somalia, the office of the Somali president, has not yet issued a response to the latest statements from Southwest State officials.
